From the desire to do well
July 27, 2005
I have to say that at the Tour I moved myself along very well. I must confess, however, that I was very nervous the day of the final time trial in St. Etienne. I wanted to do a really great run, because I knew that with the separation on Rasmussen and Ullrich the result was secure. At the same time, I wanted to make a demonstration of my strength for the comparisons of the strong rivals at the time trial. I attacked too much and in the final kilometres I weakened from the strain, but in the more difficult first sector I had seven seconds over Armstrong and at the end I had halved the separation from last year. I paid for two things: The fact that I had not prepared myself for the course thoroughly, and the choice to use the spokeless aerodynamic wheel, that with the wind tormented me on the descents. Armstrong didn’t use one, and he never makes a mistake on these issues.

(Translated by Jessica)

In the Criterium of Chaam de Stiphout, Basso grabbed victory when he outsprinted Tour de France rival, Michael Rasmussen, in a two-man sprint. Basso made the selection on the second to the last lap, when Bram Tankink, Pieter Wiening, and Joost Posthuma were left behind in the dust.

Basso took second place as he rode the “Dags na de Tour” criterium in Holland this monday. He was outsprinted by Michael Boogerd when he, Boogerd, and Tour de France stage winner Pieter Wiening arrived at the line together at the end of the 100 km race.

I’m satisfied with my experience
July 26, 2005
To participate in the two races has enriched me profoundly. It was not a winning gamble, it’s one of those experiences that makes you stronger physically and mentally. At the Giro, I won two stages and in a normal situation I would have fought for the victory. Then I went to the Tour, I attacked in the Pyrenees and I deservedly got second overall. Bjarne and I are satisfied with what we’ve sown.

(Translated by Jessica)

The end of the Tour saw Ivan Basso put in one last testing attack against the yellow jersey on stage 18, before the penultimate time trial on saturday. The time trial saw Basso cause a tiny surprise when he led at the first time check seven seconds in front of Armstrong, but Basso had gone out too fast and lost time at the end finishing in fifth. When the dust had settled, though, Basso had taken a step further up, and finished in second, 4:40 behind Lance Armstrong.

Armstrong won his seventh consecutive victory, once again stamping his authority as the greatest Tour rider ever. Vinokorouv won an incredible victory on the last stage, cheating the sprinters of their expected win.

Basso was, naturally, pleased with his performance in this year’s Tour. ”It is very big for me to finish second in the Tour de France. It’s been an important race for us, and I’m happy, that we’ve lived up to the expectations. I had high ambitions, but knew it would be risky business to do both the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France in the same season. But the team has been there for me and made it possible for me to do well in the Tour. It has meant a great deal to me, that the team has had faith in me getting this far, and I’m proud of the results we have achieved together. I’m still a young rider with many years in which to improve. I’m happy, that this will be possible together with Bjarne and the rest of the team.”

I started strong
July 23, 2005
I’m satisfied with my time trial and with my Tour. Today I’d given the maximum already on the first climb, and then perhaps I paid for the effort. The strongest was confirmed again this time to be Lance. Tomorrow, however, there’s another stage again and the Tour finishes in Paris.

Super podium, what an honor
July 25, 2005
To be on the podium along with two Tour de France winners, even being ahead of one of them, was particularly emotional. Also with Rasmussen on the podium it would have been great. The emotion comes from the fact that I confirmed for myself with respect to last year, and that I have ahead of me many seasons to try for the big strike. After the ceremony there was a very beautiful party with all of my teammates, and I thanked them because they were truly wonderful.

(Translated by Jessica)

I attacked until I was inside out
July 17, 2005
Certainly no one can say that I am an athlete who doesn’t attack. I did all that was within my ability, I was strong on the climb not to take the win, but because I wanted to make a selection. At the end, only I and Lance remained as usual; he can’t get rid of me. It’s striking to think how strong he is, anyway I feel that the difference between us is shrinking. Now there is a rest day and then one week in which I can follow everyone. I will leave no stone unturned.

We will create the strongest team in the world
July 18, 2005
I came to an agreement with CSC, they will continue to work with Riis Cycling until 2009. The sponsor is satisfied to see that the CSC sports group is the strongest in the world in the coming years. A content Ivan Basso has fully joined the plan of Bjarne, believing him to be serious. “I am happy,” Ivan affirmed, “I will be able to demonstrate to all my value and I will try to achieve a very big result.” Riis, also content, had numerous confirmations for Basso of his athletic and human value.

It’s not yet finished
July 21, 2005
Every day and on every occasion I try, also today on the last climb there was a selection and I was in front. I am not fighting to be second on the podium, but focused on trying to win. I continue to believe that the Tour isn’t finished until we are in Paris.

(Translated by Jessica)

Tuesday and Wednesday took us out of the Pyrenees. On the last day of the Pyrenees, Basso participated in the attempts to isolate and put pressure on Armstrong, but he refrained from trying to put in any serious attacks. Basso commented after the stage that it was not really well suited for attacks, due to the long run-in after the mountains. Oscar Pereiro won the stage from a breakaway.

Stage 17 was a typical breakaway stage, and Basso naturally took it easy along with the other favorites. Ullrich and T-Mobile did attempt to attack Michael Rasmussen, but the move was easily covered by Basso. The stage was well suited to Basso’s team mate Kurt Asle Arvesen who came agonizingly close to taking the win - though he was beaten at the last by Paolo Savoldelli.

Tomorrow’s stage offers the last opportunity for any shifts in the GC, before Saturday’s decisive time trial stage.

It is now official that CSC has chosen to extend their sponsorship agreement with Riis Cycling. This means Computer Sciences Corporation will now be sponsoring the team until the end of 2008. The agreement also means, that Ivan Basso has extended his contract with Team CSC until 2008.

”Ivan has not only lived up to our expectations, he has impressed me time after time with his will to improve and take responsibility for himself and his team. He has developed enormeously. From being a talent and someone who constantly made the top 10 in many of the big races, he is now the future of cycling for the next couple of years. Ivan has never made a secret of the fact, that he likes being on our team, and that means a lot to us all. With us he has the full support and a team, where he fits in well as a person. In Ivan we have a rider, who can one day win the Tour de France,” adds Riis.

”Right from the start Team CSC has been the perfect team for me. Here I’ve found the best conditions to evolve both as a rider and as a person. I have a perfect relationship with Bjarne, and he deserves most of the credit for me having achieved, what I have during the last two seasons. The team provides me with the perfect support and here I feel like I’m a part of a family. I’m happy, that this is where I can show my full potential and aim for the big goals,” says Basso.

I tried to attack 5 times

Today I tried to sink it all. Armstrong answered ever one of my accelerations. At the end of the stage, I asked Bjarne: “Am I still good enough to ride for you even if I don’t win the Tour?” He smiled, and gave me the following riposte: “Maybe”. I must say that I am feeling very good even if, as I have mentioned a few times, I am the only rider in the classification to have also completed the Giro d’Italia. For me there is only one thing left to do and that is to continue to attack as much as I can. The Tour only ends in Paris.

Greetings.

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Freely translated from Ivan Basso diary entry from IvanBasso.it (16/07/2005).